The Fall River Housing Authority convened, with Commissioners Long, Underhill, Bentley, and Madas present. During citizen input, resident Robert Pao of Cartel Heights detailed a recent stabbing incident, raising concerns about security, maintenance issues such as locked maintenance doors and delayed tub cuts, and alleged inappropriate employee conduct. He specifically credited Clarissa Borges, a nursing student, and Scott, a trauma nurse, for providing critical first aid during the incident. A board member, Kevin, committed to attending an upcoming tenant meeting on Wednesday at 4 PM to address these issues, potentially bringing facilities staff. The board then proceeded to approve several administrative and financial items, including the minutes from the February 10th meeting, bills and vouchers, management reports, and financial reports for the period ending January 31st, 2025. The FY 2026 budget book and various insurance policies for the period of April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, were also unanimously approved. The Executive Director provided an update, highlighting the hiring of a new Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator through a HUD grant and the upcoming "breakfast and serve" program for elderly residents, coordinated by Joe Do Sila. In modernization, certificates of substantial completion for elevators #3 and #4 at Card Mish Tower were approved, as was the design of elevator #2 at Chore Bishop Eid Apartments by Stark Architects. The board approved multiple one-year on-call service contracts for various trades, with contract amounts not to exceed $75,000 for most services and $125,000 for asphalt/concrete and flooring. Other procurement approvals included a three-year contract for Section 8 housing quality standards unit inspections awarded to PHI Inspections for up to $273,000, a compactor for Frank B Oliveira Apartments awarded to Maguire Equipment Inc. for $27,737, and Inspire inspections for public housing units awarded to US Inspection Group for $2,143.20. Finally, two Memoranda of Agreement with ASME Council 93 Local 1990 Unit B and Unit C, covering April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028, were approved. The meeting concluded by moving into executive session to discuss strategy for negotiations with non-union personnel.
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meeting of Housing Authority will come to order roll call please yeah shman long yeah Vice chairman under Hill here commissioner Burns is absent commissioner Bentley pres commissioner madas here citizens input open meeting the oh the open open meeting thank you Mr chairman the language for the open meeting LW is as follows persent to the open meeting law any person may make an audio or video
0:41recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or Transmissions are being made whether perceived or unperceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible thank you thank you citizens input I'm Robert Pao 1685 Pleasant Department 605 I'm here about the incident that happened at catel Friday correct huh
1:08you're a resident yes sir right we're in citizen input right now so is there any citizens that aren't residents that I'm sorry all right saying none we'll go to resin input so now I'm we doing it again no you're all set all right you just St state your name for the record and your address Robert B 1685 Pleasant apartment 605 cartel Heights and I'm here about the incident from Friday night and I'm here to tell
1:33you what wasn't in that police report it didn't happen at cartel he ran up from everybody must know the Shakers Gary Shaker owns the property on Raymond Street he ran up from that house where he was stabbed and sha R rattled the door and myself and Scott came out he told me he was stabbed but I didn't see it so I told him he wasn't coming in he directed him where the chairs were and then I
1:58seen how bad it was that's when I got to give it credit to uh one of the resident's daughters which is Clarissa Borges who's in school for nursing and one of the residents Scott who was a Trauma Nurse if it wasn't for them too we' be having a different discussion now cuz he wouldn't have made it and I understand he's still in critical stable whatever it is but them two rendered the
2:22first aid and then we get to the guy that actually was arrested for it I've thrown out of that I throw him out of the building last week when I came down in the elevator he was standing next to the pole on a Wednesday and ask him who he was going to see he couldn't tell me so I was going to go up with him whatever apartment it was but he
2:42couldn't tell me so I kindly brushed him off and got him out of the building and from the Shaker's house I from what I understand it's a rooming house and we've had nothing but problems with it I am going to address this with the city council tomorrow but I mean as far as catel goes this happens on the weekend all the time and I don't know they're screaming about security especially on the weekend I mean we've
3:09been lucky between me Scott and Tony we've been keeping Riff Raff out and off the property but it comes time where we need help because I mean if I wasn't down there at 9:00 and God forbid somebody was doing their laundry and hit that button because he was injured I mean I tried to be down there that one of them want to play cards I'll play cards Community room's been real active
3:36I understand about the Grant I know it's approved I know we'll be getting it I explained to them about the internet when we'll be getting it they had issues with maintenance and I've been very vocal about it I get it there's I don't get a chain of command because you can't expect an 80-year-old woman to go down to the basement and knock on a maintenance man's door there's a resident's been there 28 years that
4:03door's never been locked and all of a sudden in a week there's a sign on it and it's locked and there's been a lot said about me but nothing's been said directly to me and I'll take offense to that cuz I will talk to anybody mad at me or not I'll shake their hand and call it a day it's over but a lot said behind my back that's getting back to me and I'm not
4:24happy with it cuz it's coming from employees I mean direct it to me I'll answer your question the work orders are crazy I mean I get it they have to be if the office is open when it's open we can go in and say well we need a work order this is done but when we have a tenant meeting and believe me Kevin's been to them there's 20 plus people there from
4:49that building and address their concerns or what what would improve their quality of life what what could be done to a lot of them are tub Cuts I understand you've been getting a lot of them but I won't tell somebody to go get a doctor's note unless I know they have trouble walking I I do have some brains and some of them I I told AB I you can't
5:10get a tub car you you're not in a walker and but I understand they've been getting done I I know there's still a couple that really need them like for instance Lori who's here today she's waiting and Mr Price them are the two that are waiting that have been approved that I know of and I do do tend to follow follow up on it I I just on the weekend I don't know
5:35what else to say about we need some kind of help because it'd be detrimental if one of them people open the door for somebody that's don't belong there and it's happened where they push doors in before so you told me earlier Bob you have a a tenant meeting set up Wednesday 4 yep so um how how about uh I like the last time I attend your meeting we go over your work order
6:06issues um your tub Cuts your security yeah with that house um I can take back more information yes uh from here and from all the residents absolutely and then come back decision and inform the board how forward they kind of have their little election where they want me to advocate for them so but I do do at meetings I don't say anything to them that I don't know if I don't know the answer and I
6:36can't find it I can't give them the answer but it would be great and I give an open invitation for any one of you to show up Wednesday at 4 and hear the residents because their biggest concern is the security there is a problem with that intercom that it was brought I I believe there was a work or to put in because when they ring it and they pick up their
6:58phone they cannot hear them I don't know if it's a speaker or what but they can't hear him so I'd imagine it's not the only way they're getting in but that's one way and I every Mee and I say the same thing I nobody open that door for anybody if it's a nurse's badge and you know that she's been in the building before I understand you know her personally I get it let her in because
7:23of the intercom system and I make it for I'm down there every morning I'll hang around there play cards with them I'll do a lot of things with them to try to get them out of their Apartments even the weekends we have Sunday dinner and it was a big hit until Friday I mean a lot of them and I understand until they hear it from any one of you besides me it goes a long way
7:47and if be at the meeting at 4:00 and help me out with that I greatly appreciate it so uh again yeah what I'll do Bob is I'll attend I'll see if I have any availability from my facilities staff the directors and maybe I can get one of those uh people to attend also we can go over uh the protocol for for work orders um and obviously any other issues especially the security that you
8:15have um we can organize it a little better put it in put it in a format and then I'll address it accordingly right that's okay that's what I'm asking thank you you're welcome thank you: Wednesday at 4 Wednesday at 4 huh Wednesday at 4 Wednesday at 4 I'm G to try and make that thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you sorry thank you I know you're starting at 4: I have
8:59uh a hearing at 4 how's 4:30 for me to be there perfect is that good okay going 4:30 thank youcome thank you have a good
9:22night yeah that's where I had heard moving on yeah he ran up the street I knew one I once they publish the ages of the people I knew that they weren't residents minister of the regular meeting held February 10th I have a motion to accept make a motion to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held on February 10th second motion meeting second any discussion none all those in favor all those opposed bills and
10:06vouchers here that we reviewed the vouchers this these right yeah I'll entertain a motion to accept I'll make a motion to accept the vouchers second motion maid seconded any discussions there none all those in favor I I opposed management report going do these all together one at a time read them all all right manag reports application the occupancy reports tenants accounts receivable work
10:47order reports monthly Section 8 voucher activity report monthly Personnel account report director of modernization monthly report Bank investment and bond debt balance reports Iain a motion to accept I'll make a motion to accept all the management reports second motion being second any discussions May none all those in favor I opposed Financial reports for the period ending January 31st
11:272025 I'll make a motion to accept the financial reports for the period ending 13125 second second motion made second any discussions hearing none all those in favor I all right oppos then FY 2026 budget book which we have in front of I hope we all went through it um entertain a motion to accept approve it motion to approve the budget book I hear a second second any discussion hear none all those in favor I I
12:25opposed insurance policies for the period 4125 to 33126 public officials Insurance commercial property insurance commercial liability insurance automobile insurance and excess automobile insurance make a motion to approve motion motion to approve second motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I oppos we have an update from our executive director thank you chairman long um just
13:13a couple of things this month under Human Resources uh through a a grant uh through HUD we hired another uh family self-sufficiency coordinator so we uh now have two coordinators and one director and as I explained in the past that program is for our Section 8 residents and our public housing residents um they participate in a three-year program and any rent increases the uh excess rent goes into
13:45an escrow and then if they meet and complete all the guidelines of the program they get a check uh at the end uh to put toward uh home ownership vehicle College tuition what whatever it may be so we're able to hire another coordinator for that uh we did have one maintenance mechanic and one public housing clerk uh resigned under resident services uh next month we'll be starting uh the breakfast
14:18and serve at our elderly sites uh where the forer police department in the EMS serve our elderly residents it's a meet and greet a way of networking and um kind of um discussing some of the concerns the residents might have so uh Joe do Sila from our resident service department coordinates that uh so that will be starting up again uh next month and U that's all I have for this month thank you thank
14:54you new business under modernization we have certificates of suban the substantial completion for elevators number three and four at card Mish Tower motion will approve second motion made in second any discussion all those in favor I opposed under modernization we have design of elevator number two at chore Bishop Eid Apartments recommended action is approval of stock aritex to design the
15:27elevator your Bishop Eid on the HUD 0951 189 um motion to approve uh Stark Architects to design elevator number two at core Bishop e Department's eoh LC 0951 189 have a second second discussion yeah I'd like to just ask quickly where are they going to do it is it going to be right alongside the elevator that exists um cuz people are asking me yeah that's part of design it's it's too
16:09early to say with where all the mechanical uh parts are and we have a laundry room there so okay too early to determine where exactly that shaft is going to at least I have an answer yeah okay yeah we don't know any further discussion no I'm done all those in favor I I proposed procurement onall service contracts for painting carry Plumbing electrical Door and Glass fabrication HVAC asphalt concrete repairs flooring
16:49removal installation and repair recommended action is a one-year contract to each of the various contractors and the amount not to exceed 75,000 asphalt concrete repairs and floor removal installation and repair contracts in the amount not to exceed
17:14125,000 I have a motion I'll make a motion to approve the onall service contracts for painting caret drink Plumbing electrical Door and Glass fabrication HVAC asphalt concrete repairs floor removal installation and repair do I have a second second I have a question discussion yes um sorry so when uh you have a project that you need to do are you still getting like multiple quotes from these contracts
17:48essentially what we get from these folks is their labor rates and then they're based on their skill Integrity availability of the actual jobs the work orders that come up up yeah typically bombarded with um the idea of flipping units if you recall that was kind of Hud suggested this in 2017 to maintain those um to maintain the 97% occupancy so typically facilities and maintenance are
18:16are um are bringing the folks in to do the repairs and complete the work order that we can't do inous it's either overflow work or we do it's very very very for years now limited flooring that we do internally but they use you know who's available you know I they have their system that they use to assign the work I strictly try to get it out there advertised get these set up get their
18:42liability insurance their ooser cards and then maintenance and and security so that that no one is guaranteed any work you know but we try to the the local vendors that that do want to participate we try to accommodate everybody that we can and the less sophisticated trades you'll often see um folks you know painting and and carpentry maybe the same as opposed to obviously plumbing
19:05and electrical you have to be licensed so in in looking at the list that you have here there are eight painting companies yes so we put so if you have something that needs painted are you getting quotes from multiple companies well the quote the the job the we typically are supplying materials like the paint and whatnot so they're just it's it's strictly their labor rate and again it's being assigned by you know by
19:32the director facilities and his supervisory staff that's how they've attacked it if I could just interject I think what you're looking for so each individual assignment is we're not getting pric they're already prev vetted because they have to submit an hourly rate when he when he's putting the bids out so then at that point it's kind of like the blanket contract with the state we have a group of vendors that have
19:57already prevented so if facilities has three painting jobs that they have to get done they can go to any one of the three if one's busy go to the next one if two are busy go to the third but at that point we're not uh looking hey give me a price because we already know what they right and I I see that I see their hourly rates are listed I just didn't know let's say you wanted
20:25to paint four Apartments would you say okay well they I might think it takes two hours and you might think it takes four hours but and I know the rates are here so I was just wondering how you decide who gets which job that's so it's not so again it's on dependability availability because now they've already been uh vetted y however if depending on the size of the job it could cross over into
20:51a modernization project y this is for your dayto day um someone moves out obviously in our goals to flip units to get to the next person on the list because of the you know the affordable housing type of thing um we'll call Contractor a uh no I can't get there for two weeks I'm on a job will go to contract that's exactly what I was wondering contract to be and then
21:19commissioner what you find is you know after a few jobs who gives you the best rates and how reliable they are and and obligated in any way to give it to anybody else we this just potentially they could have a contract up to this amount yes and there's no again there's no guarantee because it's a it's it's it's an undefinable it's not like a project with a start and end it's so
21:47fluid you know and like last year when you have the I don't know 18 physical inspections so ultimately we had in a span of 3 months with the formally react SL inspire you know now the focus is more on the internal units and whatnot so it it ends up driving again an unforeseen amount of and you potentially depending upon what needed you could have four four painting contractors all
22:13working at the same time at different sites if you had simultaneous work potentially correct sure and our directors through experience being it we know so you may for lack of a a better definition get away with maybe padding at one time but you're not going to get you won't be called expect the work in the bills you're not going to thank you very much and this contract is for a cumulative amount for the year right
22:43correct so once they reach if there are any contractors that hit that limit uh are theyed pretty much done or you'd have to you'd have to request an an extension if they're one of your cheaper reliable ones or you have you can do a PO situation something like that we account for it you know we make sure it's requested and just so you know what you find out with these on call vendors
23:05some never even come close because they're not reliable right then others who are and do good work get you're going to use up their fee right away but you know we we want to achieve the goal of getting it done getting it ready getting it on the rolls under 20 and they do a great job with that so what you do find is the the different vendors you you can count on to get it done and
23:32who are are honest with their pricing versus some like I said you learn quick the first time I recognize a lot of names on here yeah ARG well the local I think you know with all of these and some again the less sophisticated have uh maybe we'll put in for multiple trades and whatever but I think there was only two that we just said you know we already had like five flooring and
23:55one company was double and not even in the county so you know and then another one another guy was double I believe on asphalt and had a conversation with him and he's like uh I would have to rent the equipment or whatever so but other than that they're all the city or county you know vendors and and arguably it would be almost impossible to meet the time frame to flip units once they're vacated
24:20without the additional local help you know thank you you the I'd like to by the way just for the edification of the board and the um and the folks watching at home I just wanted to read the names Michael had reminded me and it so there's all phas Property Management repair Paul news's son uh also what happens to be our grass cutter DM painting chm Contracting all phas carpentry Joe's Carpet Bristol
24:49County maintenance sh's construction Peru electrical Corporation PADI construction Collins construction O'Brien Plumbing Robert bonti plumber D and glass Innovation uh from Robison Street cam uh HVAC Westport excavation industrial CL concrete and uh Dustin Blackwell floring so it's we have it out there publicly that's any further discussion some on on your award letter have multiple uh trades in one I
25:27understand no other further discussion uh all those in favor I I opposed under procurement Section 8 housing quality standards unit inspections recommended award a three-year contract with two separate distinct one-year options to renew at the sole discretion of the for of Housing Authority and public housing inspections in an amount not to exceed $273,000 I let the a motion to uh
26:02approve I'll make a motion uh to award a three-year contract with two separate and distinct one-year options to renew at the sole discretion of the fall of housing authority to Phi inspections in an amount not to exceed $273,000 second any discussion I just have a question on the 273 is that for the entire contract or is that an annual contct years so it's not to exceed 273 over the threeyear period correct
26:38correct any other discussion all those in favor
26:50opposed compactor for Frank B alera Apartments recommended actions to order contract to the loan bidder Maguire request equipment Inc in the amount not to exceed $ 27,7 37 I'll make a motion to award the contract with compactor at all of your apartments to Maguire equipment in the amount knxt 27737 second M second any discussion all those in favor I I opposed Inspire inspections for public
27:28housing units recom recommendation is to be made at board meeting so not sure what that means that name Mr chair um for the edification of the board and Folks at home we had a uh a deadline of last Wednesday and one of the vendors had asked for a short extension we granted put the uh plan holders on notice and uh we received two bids as you can see by the award letter
27:56um with the low being uh us IG uh us inspection group for $2,143 120 second vendor uh Midwest inspection who again was higher $3,989 40 and this contract uh satisfies both our requirement HUD requirement for yearly inspections and again going back to facilities and maintenance helps them prepare for upcoming react slash and Spire regulated um Federal audits of the uh fiscal site that come up uh
28:36yearly I we're seeking permission to award the contract to us inspection group for uniform physical condition standards inspectional services in the amount of $2,143 120 motion to approve second motion made seconded all those any discussion all those in favor I opposed miscellaneous proposed memorandum of agreement between the Fall River housing authority and the asme council 93 local 1990 Unit B uh 42125 to
29:2233128 recommended to approve
29:34the first one is Unit B you should
29:50have these people are already these people are in that unit so they're already there yeah it's just the r type of thing yeah entertain a motion to approve um motion to approve second discussion from what I understand this is just a renewal of a contract that's already in forc is that correct all those in favor I I opposed proposed memorandum of agreement between a foral housing authority and
30:27asme Council 93 local 990 Unit C from 4125 to 33128 recommended action is approval and it's on your second let that's this one right yeah yeah make a motion approve second M seconded any discussion I see none all those in favor I opposed passes all right we're going to go into ex before we go into executive session we're going to to adjourn out of executive session before we go into executive session I'll
31:14entertain a motion to adjourn from executive session the entire meeting to go into executive session meeting right first and then a afterwards we're going to two two separate motions U Mr chairman one to uh make a motion to go into executive session and then one motion to adjourn while you're in executive session okay so we do go into executive session first I would thought we first okay I'll make
31:40a motion to go into executive session second it all right the reason for the executive session is the uh pursuant to mgl 30A section 21 A2 to conduct a strategy session in preparation for negotiations with non-union Personnel or to Collective uh conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiated with nonusing Personnel um this is what will be discussed in executive section so we
32:08have a motion made seconded um any discussion all those in favor I I opposed um also entertain a motion to Jour this meeting from executive session I'll make a motion to adjourn from executive session during this executive sessions meeting second motion being seconded uh is there any discussion none all those in favor I I opposed it's passed we are now in executive session